Ice vending machine



M. TNZEIGLER ICE VENDING MACHINE March 23, 1937.

Original Filed April 10, 1953. 6 Sheets-Shet l Wi/M/ AT'T' [:1 RNEIYE March 23, 1937; M. T. ZElGLER ICE VENDING MACHINE Original Filed April 10, 1 931 6 sheets-sheet 2 T. ZEIGLER I 2,074,351

ICE VENDING MACHINE March 23, 1937.

Original Filed April 10, 1 931 6 Sheat s-Sheet 3 FIE.E

INVENTEJR; I T

M AT March 23, 1937..

M. T. ZEIGLER ICE VENDING MACHINE Original Filed April 10, 1951 mum 6 Sheets-sheaf 4 arch 23, 1937.

ZEIGLER 2974,35}

ICE VENDING MACHINE Original Filed April 10. 1931 s Sheets-Sheet s w 7/zlw ,i'r

MarchZB, 1937 Y M. T. ZEIGLER 2,974,351

ICE VENDING MACHINE I Original Filed April lo, m6]. 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 M 77454911 [1 RN E. Y El Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ICE VENDING MACHINE Maxwell T. Zeigler, Huntington Park, CaliL, as-' signor, by mesne assignments, to Zeigler Packaged Ice Machinery Corporation,

Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Application April 10, 1931, Serial No.

Renewed February 20, 1934 24 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines,

and has for an object the provision of a machine adapted to deliver a block of ice of known weight when the machine is actuated by depositing a coin or coins of predetermined value within a suitable mechanism accessible exteriorly of the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine in which are combined means for storing and vendl0 ing the blocks of ice, and also a refrigerating mechanism whereby the compartment within which the blocks of ice at a suitable temperature, so as to prevent melting of the ice. I

Another object is to provide a novel design of storing and conveying mechanism whereupon a relatively large number of blocks of ice may be stored within a minimum of space, and in such a manner that they advance by'gravity along the conveying mechanism and toward the delivery opening each time a block of ice is vended.

A more detailed object in this connection is the provision of a storage and conveying mechanism in the form of a plurality of coaxially arranged and intertwined helical guideways, each of which is adapted to receive a plurality of blocks of ice, and which are provided with means for delivering the blocks from any of the guideways to a common delivery opening in the housing of the vending machine,

A further object is the provision of a novel escapement device adapted to releaseone blockof ice at a time, without permitting the other blocks in the associated guideway to move therepast.

A further object is to provide means for compensating for the greater steepness in pitch of each of the several guideways as compared with the pitch of the next adjacent guideway on the outside thereof, this compensating means being for the purpose of preventing from moving downwards upon their respective guideways at a speed which is apt to result in breakage of the block of ice when it is brought to a'sudden stop by coming in contact either with a block of ice at the bottom of the guideway or with the escapement device.

A still further object is the provision of an automatic closure for the delivery opening, which is adapted to be opened each time the vending so machine is actuated, thereby permitting dis- "charge of a block of ice, after which the closure is again moved to closed position, thereby preventing warm air from entering the refrigerated storage compartment. 5 This invention possesses other'objects and adare stored, is maintained the blocks of ice vantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification. 5

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a compound vertical medial transverse sectional view taken upon the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the direction of view as indicated. 15

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line tlof Fig. 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 5 is another horizontal sectional view, this view being taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig. l, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section of the lower ends of the several spiral guideways, the delivery opening in the housing, and the means whereby blocks of ice are conducted from any of the guideways to the common delivery opening. The plane of section is taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the several guideways upon the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 8 is an inside elevation of a closure associated with the delivery opening and the actuating means therefor.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the closure and op erating means of Fig. 8. This view may be considered as a sectional view taken upon the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, with the direction of view as indicated.

As illustrated upon Fig. 1, the vending machine of the present invention comprises a housing, indicated in its entirety at I l, upon the front wall E2 of which a coin box I3 is easily accessible. 45 This coin box is adapted to receive one or more coins of a given value, and is provided preferably with a push button M, which may be pressed after the proper coins have been deposited 'in the coin slots Hi, to cause actuation of the vending mao chine within the housing ll. Inasmuch as the details of construction of the coin box l3 constitute no portion of the present invention, its inner operative parts need not be shown nor describedin detail.

on its inner face, thereby preventing At the bottom, and adjacent one corner, of the front wall l2, a delivery opening I1 is formed, and a platform I8 is positioned in front of the opening H in such a manner that when a block of 5 ice is discharged through the opening |1, it comes to rest upon the platform l8, whence it may be removed by the purchaser. ward edge-of the platform I8 is provided with a stop l8 having a cushion 2| of any suitable nature possibility of damage to a block of ice when it engages the stop I8. w

Access to the interior of the housing may be .had through a door 22 in the front wall l2 adjacent the delivery opening I 1, and also through another door 23 in a side wall 24 of the housing proximal to the delivery opening l1, the door 23 being adjacent the top of the housing The interior of the housing II is divided by a 2 horizontal partition 28 into upper and lower compartments 21 and 28, respectively. The former of these is adapted to receive. any suitable type of refrigerating mechanism, indicated in its entirety at 29, whereas the compartment 28 serves as the storage compartment within which a relatively large number of blocks of ice are kept in readiness for vending.

Whereas any suitable type of refrigerating mechanism 29 may be employed, it is illustrated 30 as including an electric motor 3| operatively connected as by a belt 32 to a compressing pump 33. The discharge line 34 of the pump 33 leads to a condenser 38 of any suitable design, and from the condenser 38 a pipe 31- leads through the parti- 35 tion 28 to an evaporator or cooling coil 38, which is disposed within the storage compartment 28. From the other end of the cooling coil 38 a line '38 leads to a trap 4|, from the upper end of which another line 42 leads back to the intake valve of the pump 33. Thus, it may be seen that when the condenser 38, evaporator 38, trap 4|, and the connecting conduits are filled with a suitable refrigerant such as ammonia, and when the pump 33 is driven by the electric motor 3|, liquid 45 ammonia will be driven into the coil 38 and caused to evaporate therein, thus extracting heat from the compartment 28, after which the gaseous ammonia flows back to the pump 33 by way of the trap 4|. In this manner the temperature within the storage compartment 23 is maintained below a predetermined maximum, preferably between 25 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit, it being understood that a thermostat (not shown) may be employed in conjunction with the refrigerating mechanism 29, so as automatically to maintain the temperature within the compartment 28 at the desired point.

The efllciency of the entire refrigerating mechanism is increased by providing an inner shell 48 so for the storage compartment 28, thus providing a space 41 between the outer walls of the housing II and the shell 48, within which any suitable heat insulative material may be provided, or which may merely be left empty, thus providing 5 a dead air space whereby flow of heat to the interior of the storage compartment 28 is materially lessened.

A combination storage and conveying mechanism 5| is disposed within the storage compartment 28. This mechanism 5| is in the form of a multiple helical conveyor or chute comprising a plurality of (preferably two) decks 82 and 53. These helical decks are disposedcoaxially, and are intertwined, so that the respective whorls of each deck are disposed in vertically spaced rela- Preferably, the for-- tionship, The term "spiral is not used in a mathematical sense but to indicate decks or guideways winding downwardly from the top about a vertical axis.

The storage and conveying device 8| is erected upon a suitable framework 84, which comprises a central column 88, inner vertical supports 81, pref erably angle irons, and retained at equal radial distances about the column 88 by means of radiating braces 88. Opposite eachof the inner supports 81 an outer vertical spacing strip 83 is retained by means of stay bolts II, which serve as supports for sets of parallel helical strips 32. The number of sets of strips determines the number of decks to be employed, the present modification being illustrated as employing two decks 82 and 53, as described herelnabove. The

strips 82 of each deck divide that deck into a plurality of guideways or chutes 83, there being three such guideways in each of the decks 82 and 53 of the present modification. The bottom of each guideway 83 is defined by a large number of rollers 84 which are journaled upon radially extending rods 88, the ends of which are anchored in the strips 82 defining the associated guideway. Thus, it may be seen that a block of ice which is placed upon the rollers 84 adjacent the upper end of any of the guideways 83 will move by gravity downwards over the rollers 84, moving in a spiral path, as determined by the spiral strips 82 which define that guideway, toward the lower end of the conveyor 5|.

The guideways 83 of each of the decks 82, 83

straighten out at their upper ends, as indicated at 1|, and thus extend tangentially to a position adjacent the upper door 23, thereby facilitating the loading of the conveyor with blocks of ice. However, the tangential portions of the guideways maintain the pitch of the remainder of the conveyor, so that whenever a block of ice is placed upon the upper end of any one of the guideways, it will immediately move by its own weight downwards into the spiral portion and toward the lower end.

Similarly, the lower ends 12 of the guideways 83 extend tangentially toward the delivery opening |1, preferably with slightly increased pitch, as

- best indicated upon Fig. 3. However, instead of extending all the way to thedelivery opening l1, they terminate at a distance therefrom, so as to leave room for the discharge pans 13 and 14, wherebyblocks of ice from any one of the guideways 83 are conducted to the delivery opening H which is common to all the guideways.

Preferably the'entire structure of the conveying and storage mechanism 8| is an integral unit, inasmuch as I find it more convenient to construct this portion of the device separately from the housing, and subsequently to lower the spiral conveyor 5| into the partially assembled housing, after which the partition 28, refrigerating mechanism 28, and roof 18 are installed. Access to the interior of the upper compartment 21, within which the refrigerating mechanism 23 is installed, may be had through a door 11 in the front wall l2, and preferably this door is provided with a grating 18 whereby the compartment 21 is ventilated.

Inasmuch as the present modification of the storage and conveying mechanism 5| is intended for use in the dispensation of blocks of ice, each of which is of a given weight and dimensions, and in view of the fact that such material is apt to fracture if permitted to travel down the guideways 83 at too great a speed and to be brought suddenly to rest by striking a block at the bottom of the chute or by coming into contact with the escapement mechanism, 1 have designed the conveyor 6| so as to limit the speed at which the 5 blocks of ice will be permitted to travel down the 15 handled. Moreover, the rollers 64 of each of the guideways 63 are arranged upon their respective rods 66 in pairs, and the rollers 01 each pair are arranged for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the 20 stead of being disposed at the extreme lateral edges of the guideway, they are spaced inwards a material distance therefrom toward the center of the guideway. Hence, in rolling down over the rollers 64, a block of ice is not supported at its 25 extreme outermost edges. Instead, the area of the base of each block which rests upon supports is diminished materially in width, thereby making it easier for each block to tip over. This tendency to tip over is caused by the centrifugal force 30 which is developed when the block moves in the circular or spiral path defined by each of the guideways'63. As will readily be observed, the innermost guideway 63 is considerably steeper than the outermost guideway. This is apparent 5 from an inspection of Fig. 2, and also when it is realized that all the guideways 63 of each deck 5t, 52 have their upper ends at the same elevation,.and likewise their lower ends at the same elevation. However, inasmuch as the whorls of 40 the innermost guideway. 63 are of considerably less diameter than those of the outermost guideway, it follows that the innermost guideway is of considerably lesser length than the outermost. Consequently, the innermost guideway will be of 45 considerably steeper pitch than the outermost,

because it is of considerably lesser length, although the diii'erence in elevation between its upper end and lower end is the same as that of the outermost guideway. Hence, the tendency would be for the blocks of ice moving downwards on the innermost guideway to travel at a considerably greater rate of speed, unless means were provided for compensating for this greater, tendency. However, this difiiculty is very easily taken 55 care of by proper adjustment of the rollers 64, and so spacing them that when the speed of a block of ice in moving downwards thereupon ex ceeds a predetermined maximum, the centrifugal force developed thereby will produce a tendency 60 for the block to tip. This will cause the inner, upper edge of the block to be raised, bringing it into engagement with the rollers 64 of the guideways 63 immediately above that upon which the block is moving. The faster the block moves, the

65 more firmly will it press its upper surface against these rollers, with the result that the braking tendency whereby the downward speed of the block is controlled, is directed proportional to the speed at which the block is moving.

7 Inasmuch as there is a single delivery opening l1 through which all of the guideways 63' are adapted to discharge their respective blocks of ice, I have provided the two discharge pans 13 and 14, pivotally mounted "at the lower ends of the two decks 52 and 53, respectively. Each of present modification by so.

associatedguideway, but in-' which are moving oil? ciated guideways.

guideway bya transversely extending rod 8| Fig. 6). The lower end oi each of the discharge by a spring 82, 83, respectively, these springs being so proportioned, however, that when a imposes. its weight upon either of the discharge pans 13, 14, that pan will be pivoted downwards about the axis of its pivoting rod which leads outwards through the delivery opening l1 to the platform I8. It will beobserved that the upper pan 13, when in elevated position, is withdrawn out of the way of blocks oi ice the lower deck '53. However, when it is moved to operative position by the weight of a block of ice thereupon, the lower end of the upper pan 13 is disposed within the lower pan 14, providing an inclined surface down which a block of ice may slide into the lower pan 14, and thence, by way of the inclined platform 84, to the receiving platform l8, without dropping with sufilcient velocityto fracture the block of ice. Inasmuch as each 'of the pivoted receive a block of ice from any one of the asso- However, each of these pans tapers to such an extent that its lower end guides a block of ice from any of the guideways 63 of the associated deck into and through the delivery opening i1;

An escapement mechanism is provided adjacent the lower end of each guideway 63, so as to permit a single block of ice to be released from the guideway each time the dispensing mechanism is actuated; and subsequent to the release of a block the remaining blocks of ice in the associated deway are permitted to move downwards a distance equal to the length of the released block, thereby positioning the next block of that guideway in position for subsequent release. This escapement mechanism comprises a plate 86, the two ends 61 and 88 of which are offset, but disposed in substantially parallel planes and joined by a'transversely extending portion 89. The plate 86 is disposed with its upper end 61 above'the plane of the rods 66 upon which the rollers 64 are journaled, whereas the lower end 88 of the plate 66 is disposed below the plane of the rods 66, as clearly shown upon Fig. 6. ,The plate is mounted for rocking movement by means of a pair of spaced brackets 9! extending downpans 13, 14 is normally held in elevated position wards from the under surface of the upper oifset end 61, and pivotally mounted upon one of therods 66. A leaf spring 92 is riveted or otherwise permanently attached to the upper end 81. of the plate 86, and extends past the transversely extending portion 89, so that the lower end of the spring 92 bears against a rod or pin 93, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that the spring 92 is continually urging the plate 86 in rocking motion in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed upon Fig. 6, i. e., to lower the upper end 81 and to raise the lower end 88. The upper end 81 the form of a roller 94 which is journaled upon a pin 96 which extends transversely of the upper end 81 of the plate 86, this pin being carried by extensions of the plate 86. The lower end-83 is provided with an abutment in 6 plate 36,

is also provided with an abutment in the form of a roller 96, which also is journaled upon apin 99 extending transversely of the plate. However,

this pin 99 is carried by vertical extensions IOI of the lower end 66 which extend between the rods 66 so as to dispose theabutment roller- 93 above the plane ofthe upper surfaces of the rollers 64 when in position to engage a block I02 of ice and prevent it from moving off the associated guideway 63. Another leaf spring I03 is riveted or otherwise attached to the lower end 36 of the and extends past the transverse portion 89, so as to dispose the upper end of the spring I03 adjacent theupper abutment roller 94. Between the shaft I06, so that in reality the shaft I06 serves also as one of the rods 66 for the support of this pair of rollers. However, the shaft I06 extends across all the guideways 63 of the associated deck 52, 53, with the result that all the cams I04 of that deck are operated by a single shaft I06. Moreover, the two shafts I06 of the two decks are connected by means of 'a chain I01, which engages sprockets I03 and I09 on the upper and lower shafts I06, respectively, with the result that all the cams I04 are moved simultaneously, thereby predetermining the sequence of operation of the several guideways 63.

In the present modification, the operating mechanism is designed to rotate all the cams I06 through one-sixth (V6) of a complete revolution upon each actuation thereof, and each cam I06 is in the form of a semi-cylinder, i. e., it is provided with a cylindrical surface I I I which extends throughout and a relieved portion I I2 which extends throughout the remaining 180 of the cam. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the high portion III of a cam is upwards, it bears aga nst the upper roller 94, rocking the plate 86 in a clockwise direction, as viewed upon Fig. 6, and against the action of the springs 92 and I03, thus raising the upper abutment roller 94 and lowering the lower abutment roller 98. This will permit the extreme lowermost block I02 of ice to move past the escapement device and through the delivery opening I1. As this occurs, however, the upper abutment roller 96 will come into contact with the lower surface of the next block I02 of ice on that same guideway, holding the block I02 elevated so that its upper forward corner will come into contact with a roller II3 which is positioned at a suitable distance above the bed of the associated guideway, as clearly shown upon Fig. 6. Hence, this block I02 and all the other blocks of the associated guideway, are not permitted to move downwards to again fill the space emptied when the lowermost block I02 is released, until the cam I04 is again rotated far enough to swing the plate 86 into that position in which the upper abutment roller 94 is retracted and the lower abutment roller 96 is disposed in the path of the next block I02. Therefore, when the blocks of ice do again feed downwards to fill the space emptied by the released block, they will be brought to rest by the engagement of the lowermost block with the'roller 96, which will retain them against release until the releasing mechanism is again actuated.

The actuating means for the cam shafts I06 is preferably an electric motor II6 coupled to the lowermost shaft I06 through a speed reduction gear mechanism, indicated in its entirety at H1. The motor II6 receives energy through a control switch I I3. Inasmuch as the details of construction of this control switch form no portion of the present invention, it will not be necessary to describe it, beyond explaining that it includes a fixed contact II9 adapted to complete the motor circuit when engaged by a movable contact I20. A solenoid I2I is adapted to be energized by a circuit which is not illustrated, when the proper coins are dropped into the coin control box I3 and the button I4 is depressed, whereupon the solenoid I2I attracts the contact I20 and moves it into engagement with the contact II9, completing the circuitto the motor H6, and also an auxiliary holding circuit which keeps the solenoid I2I energizeduntil the contacts H9 and I20 are separated. An arm I22, rigid with the lower pivoted pan, is connected to a cam I23 by a link I24 and pivotally mounted lever I26, in such a manner that when the pan 14 is depressed, the cam pushes the contact I20 away from the contact I I9, deenergizing both the motor I I6 and the solenoid I2I. Inasmuch as the upper pan 13 conducts cakes of ice from the upper .deck into the lower pan 14, the switch contacts H9 and I20 w.l l be separated whenever a block of ice is delivered through the opening Il; but should it happen that one of the guideways 63 becomes clogged in any wa an operator of the machine will be sure to receive a block of ice, because the motor II6 will be kept energized until a block slides and depresses the pan 14.

Also coupled to the gear reduction I I1 is a pump I26, preferably enclosed within a suitable casing I21 and operated by a shaft I26 whenever the motor H6 is energized. A discharge conduit I29 from the pump I26 is preferably a length of flexible tubing, and leads to a cylinder I3I which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin I32 upon a bracket I33 which is secured to the inside of the shell .46 adjacent the delivery opening I1. A pair of doors I34 and I36 are mounted for pivotal movement about vertical axes adjacent the opposite sides of the opening I1, and rigid with each of the doors I34 and I36 are operating cranks I31 and I36, respectively. I'he crank I31 is pivoted by a pin I39 directly to the rod I4I which is adapted to be pushed outwards from the cylinder I3I when fluid under pressure is supplied thereto, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that when this motion of the rod l4I occurs the door I34 is swung outwards to open the delivery opening I1. The'other door I36 is also swung outwards simultaneously, inasmuch as it is also connectedto the rod I by means of a link I42, one end of which is pivoted to the crank I33, and the other end of which is pivoted to a lever I43 pivotally mounted upon a bracket I44. This lever is connected by a push rod I46 to the pin I39, so that'when the rod MI is pushed to the right, as viewed upon Fig. 9, the lever I43 is swung in counterclockwise motion, pushing the link I42 and thus causing the door I36 also to open. When the pump are returned to that position in which the doors I34 and I36 are closed, by means of a spring I41 under tension between the lever I43 and an eye or staple I43 secured to the inner surface of the shell 46.

I26 is stopped the parts 1 in the machine Operation shape. As the blocks are placed upon the upper ends of the guideways and released, they will move downwards of-their own weight until they come into contact with either the escapement mechanism at the bottom of the guideway or 15 with ablock of ice already positioned upon that a verse spacing of the rollers 84 is such that the guideway." As explained previously, the transspeed ofeach block of icev in moving downwards is limited so that itwill not be brought to rest 20 with sufllcient impact to fracture the block of ice. After the desired number of blocks of ice have been placed upon the delivery and storage mechanism 5|, the door 23 should be closed so as to prevent the influx of heat to the storage.

25 chamber.

The thermostat (not shown) whereby the operation of the refrigerating mechanism 29 is controlled, should be set so as to maintain the temperature. within the compartment 28 several degrees below the freezing point. Hence, the ice stored therein is kept at a sufliciently low temperature to permit its being transported a considerable distance by a purchaser, after the block of ice is removed from the compartment 28, without excessive melting. It should be explained that toward this same end I have found it desirable to wrap each ofthe blocks of ice with a suitable heavy kraft paper, which serves as an efijlcient heat insulative wrapping, which also is conduciveto the elimination of excessive melting during transportation of a block of ice after its removal from the vending machine.

A person desiring to purchase a block of ice should deposit the suitable coins in the coin slots 16, and then press the button I4, causing energization of the motor I I6, which will be energized long enough to cause the cam shafts I86 to turn through 60, after which the switch mechanism II8 will be actuated to break the circuit leading to the motor H8. The first result of energization of the motor will be opening the delivery doors I34 and I 36. Shortly thereafter the upper abutment roller 94 of one of the escapement plates 86 will be engaged .and raised by the high portionIII of one of the cams I84, thus causing the lower abutment roller 98 of that escapement mechanism to, be withdrawn from the path of the block I82, which has up until this time been engaged thereby. This permits the block I82 to move downwards past the roller 98, over the associated pan I3 or I4, as the ease might be, and through the opening I1, onto the platform I8, from which the purchaser may easily remove the block. The next'block I82 of that guideway will .be engaged by the elevated upper roller 94, and thus held against being released, thereby insuring that the purchaser will receive asingle block of ice.

As soon' as the de-energization of the motor I I6 occurs, the pressure generated by the pump I26 will be relieved, whereupon the spring I41 4 will cause the doors I34 and I36 to close.

Simultaneously with the release of the escapement mechanism associated with ,one of the guideways 63, the cam I84 of another guideway will be moved in such a manner that the upper abutment roller 94 drops off the high portion III of that cam, thus permitting the roller 94 to be lowered. This action is relativelyfast, inasmuch as the lower spring I83 is engaged. by the high III of the cam I84 when the upper roller portion 84 drops off the high portion, that the spring with the result I83 then cooperates with the spring 92 to snap the escapement plate 86 back into that position in which it is illustrated at the bottom of Fig. 6. This insures that the lower abutment roller 98 will be disposed in the path of the block I82 before it has a chance to move downwards from that position in which it has been retained by the upper abutment roller 94. Hence, each time a block of ice I82 is released from oneof the guideways 63, the blocks in an-' other of the guideways are permitted to move downwards a distance equal to the length of the block of ice which previously had been dispensed from that guideway, placing the lowermost block in position for subsequent dispensation. Inasmuch as the several cams III are set 60 apart, only a single block of ice is released each time the machine is actuated.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A conveying mechanism comprising a plurality of spaced parallebstrips arranged spirally to define spiral journaled between said strips'in position to support articles upon the guideways and to conduct said articles downwards thereupon, and means for limiting the speed of said articles in moving downwards upon said rollers, the limiting means ofthe several guideways being individually variable to compensate for the steeper pitch of each guideway as compared with that of the adjacent guideway on the outside thereof.

2. A conveying mechanism comprising a pluguideways therebetween, rollers rality of spaced parallel strips arranged spirally to define spiral guideways therebetween, rollers journaled between said strips in position to sup port articles upon the guideways and to conduct said articles downwards thereupon, the whorls of each guideway being spaced one above the other and said articles being slightly less in height than the distance between the rollers of adjacent whorls, said rollers being arranged in pairs and the rollers of each ,pair being journaled for upon the guideway exceeds a predetermined max-' 3. In a vending machine, an inclined chute adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be vended, and escapement means adjacent the lower end of said chute for releasing one of said articles at a time, said escapement means comprising a plate mounted for rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of said chute, upper and lower'abutments carried by said plate and engageable with one of said articles,'an abutment above said plate and slightly in advance of said upper abutment on the plate,

spring means urging said plate into that position in which said lower abutment lies within the path of articles in moving off said chute, and a cam cooperative with said plate and adapted to rock the plate into that position in which said lower abutment is withdrawn from said path, said upper abutment being adapted to engage the bottom of the next of said articles on said chute when said lower abutment is withdrawn and press said next article upwards into engagement with said abutment above the plate.

4. In a vending machine, an inclined chute adapted to receive a plurality of articles to be vended, and escapement means adjacent the lower end of said chute for releasing one of said articles at a time, said escapement means comprising a plate mounted for rocking movement about an axis extending transversely of said chute, upper and lower abutments carried by said plate and engageable with one of said articles, an abutment above said plate and slightly in adso vance of said upper abutment on the plate.

spring means urging said plate into that position in which said lower abutment lies within the path of articles in moving 011' said chute, a cam cooperative with said plate and adapted to 25 rock the plate into that position in which said lower abutment is withdrawn from said path, said upper abutment being adapted to engage the bottom of the next of said articles on said chute when said lower abutment is withdrawn so and press said next article upwards into engagement with said abutment above the plate, and a spring engageable by said cam as the cam releases said plate and adapted to snap the lower abutment back to engaging position.

35 5. In a vending machine, a housing, a plurality of superposed decks, each deck having a plurality oi inclined chutes therein, a single delivery opening in the housing adjacent the lower end or the lowermost deck, and separate escapeo ment means for each of said chutes co-opera tively connected to release articles from said chutes one at a time and in predetermined sequence through the delivery opening.

6. In a vending machine, a housing, a plu- 5 rality of inclined chutes therein, a single delivery opening in the housing adjacent the lower end of said chutes, separate escapement means for each of said chutes co-operatively connected to release articles one at a time for movement 50 through the delivery opening, said escapement means comprising a rocking member for each of the chutes and provided with means for alternately retaining and releasing the article for delivery through the delivery opening, means for operating said rocking members in predetermined sequence, said operating means including rotating cam shafts provided with cams for operating the rocking member, and means for rotating the shafts in unison.

'7. In a vending machine, a housing,

opening in the housing adjacent the lower end of the lower deck, separate escapement means 65 for each of said chutes co-operatively connected to release articles from said chutes one at a time for movement through the delivery opening in predetermined sequence, an upper and a lower discharge pan for the upper and the lower 70 deck respectively, said upper pan being tiltable by the weight of the article passing over it to transfer the article to the lower pan and the lower pan being adapted to convey the article through the delivery opening, and means opera 75 tively connected with said lower pan 1 9 top 60 a plu-' rality of superposed decks therein provided with a plurality of inclined chutes, a single delivery the operation 01 the escapement means for the chutes when an article passes over the lower pan.

8. In a vending machine, a housing, a plurality of inclined chutes therein, a single delivery opening in the housing adjacent the lower end of said chutes, separate escapement means for each of said chutes co-operatively connected to release articles from said chutes one at a time for movement through the delivery opening in predetermined sequence, said escapement means comprising a rocking member for each of the chutes having means for alternately retaining and releasing the article for delivery through the delivery opening, a stationary abutment above the rocking member and co-operating therewith in retaining the article, and means for operating said rocking members in predetermined sequence.

9. Package dispensing apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel conveyors and each adapted for conveyi 8 blocks of ice one behind the other in single flie, a gate associated at the discharge end of each conveyor for holding the blocks of ice thereon at each operation thereof and permitting the delivery of the advancing blocks of ice on such conveyor, means for operating each gate and returning it to normal position, which means are associated side by side in a row, a single shaft with a plurality of arms threon in staggered position to engage and cperate successively said gate operating means for the plurality of conveyors, whereby the advancin block of ice will be delievered from all the conveyors in succession, and means for stopping said rotating series of arms after each gate has been operated. O

10. Package dispensing apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel conveyors and each adapted for conveying blocks of ice one behind the other in single flle, a gate associated at the discharge end of each conveyor for holding the blocks of ice thereon at each operation thereof and permitting the delivery. of the advancing block of ice on such conveyor, means for operating each gate and returning it to normal position, which means are associated side by side in a row, a, single shaft with a plurality of arms thereon in staggered position to engage and operate successively. said gate operating means for the plurality of conveyors, whereby the advancing block of ice will be delivered from all the conveyors in succession, means for stopping said rotating series of arms after each gate has been operated, a delivery door for the blocks of ice released irom said conveyors, and a motor means for starting each operation of said gate operating means and at the same time opening the delivery door. I

11. Package dispensing apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel conveyors and each adapted for conveying blocks of ice one behind the other in single flle, a gate associated at the discharge end of each conveyor for holding a block of ice thereon and at each operation thereof and permitting the delivery of the advancing block of ice on such conveyor, means for operating each gate and returning it to normal position, which means are associated side by side in a row, a single shaft with a plurality of arms thereon in staggered position to engage and operate successively said gate operating means for the plurality of conveyors, whereby the advancing block of ice will be delivered from all the conveyors in succession, means for stopping said rotating series of arms after each gate has been operated, the arms on the shaft for causing the operation of said gate extending substantially equidistant from each other circumferentially.

12. A vending machine comprising means providing a housing, a plurality of inclined conveyors adapted tohave article's stored thereon one behind the other in thehousing, there being a door opening in the housing through which articles released from all of the conveyors may pass, escapement means for releasing articles from the conveyors one at a time to pass through the door opening, means for operating the escapement means for the conveyors in succession, and

means operable by the passage of an article from a conveyor through the door opening for causing the escapement means to cease operating whereby should one conveyor become exhausted or clogged the escapement operating means will be caused to continue to operate until an article is released from another conveyor and delivered to the door opening. I

13. A vending machine comprising means providing a housing, aplurality of inclined conveyors adapted to have articles stored thereon one behind the other in the housing, there being a door opening in the housing through which articles released from all of the conveyors may pass, escapement means for releasing articles from the conveyors one at a time to pass through the door opening, a door for the opening, means for opening the door and operating the escapement means to release an article from the conveyor to be passed V through the door opening, and means operable by the passage of an article from a conveyor through the door opening for causing the door to subse-. quently close.

14. A vending machine comprising means providing a housing, a plurality of inclined conveyors adapted to have articles stored thereon one behind the other in the housing, there being a door opening in the housing through which articles released from all of the conveyors may pass, escape-' ment means for releasing articles from the conveyors one at a time to pass through the door 4 opening, a door for the opening, means for opening the door and operating the escapement means of the conveyorsin succession, and means operable-by the passage of an article from a conveyor through the door opening for causing the escapement operating means to cease operating and the door to close whereby should one con veyor become exhausted or clogged the escapement operating means will be caused to continue to operate and the door will be held open until an article is released from another conveyor and delivered through the door opening. I

15. In a. dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a chute in the housing in 60 adapted to be stored, motor driven means for releasing articles one at a time from the chute to be. passed through the opening, a door normally closing the opening but openable by other motor driven means, and means engageable by an article passing from the chute through the opening for causing the second motor driven means to stop and allow the door to close. 7

16. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing hav- 70 chutes, a plurality of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored, motor driven escapement means for releasing articles one at 76 a time from the chutes to be passed through the means for releasing which a plurality of articles to be. dispensed are ing an egress opening 'common to a plurality of opening, and means engageable by an article passing from a chute through the openingfor causing the motor driven means to stop. f

17. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing hav, ing an egress opening, a plurality of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored, escapement means for each chute, motor driven means for'operating the escapement means of the chutes to release articles from the chutes one at a time to be passed through the opening, and means engageable by an article passing. from a chute through the opening for stopping the motordriven means.

18. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a plurality of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored,

' escapement means for each chute, motor driven means for operating the escapement means. of the chutes consecutively to release articles from the chutes one at a time to be passed through the opening, and means engageable by an articlepassing from ,a chute through the opening for. stopping the motor driven means.

19. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a door normally closing the opening, a plurality of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored, motor driven articles one at a time from the chutes to be passed through the opening and for opening the door, and means engageable by an article passing from a chute through the opening for causing the motor driven means to stop and allow the door to close.

20. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a door normally closing the opening, a plurality-of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored, escapement means for each chute, motor driven means for opening the door and for operating the escapement means of the chutes to release articles from the chutes one at a time to be passed through the opening, and means engageable by an article passing from a chute through the opening for stopping the motor driven means and allowing the door to close.

21. In a. dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a door normally closing the opening, a plurality of inclined chutes in the housing upon which a plurality of articles to be dispensed are adapted to be stored, escapement means for each chute, motor driven means for opening the door and for operating the escape- 22. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing hav- H ing an egress opening, a plurality of chutes in the housing in which articles to be dispensed may be stored, motor driven means for releasing articles from the chutes consecutively one at a time from each chute to be passed through the opening, means for closing the circuit of the motor, and means operable upon the discharge of an article for opening the circuit of the motor to allow the motor to stop.

23. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a chute in the housing in which articles to be dispensed may be stored,

- ment means of the chutes consecutively to rea door normally closing the opening, means for releasing articlespne at a time from the chute, motor driven means for opening the door, means for closing the circuit of the motor, and means operable upon the discharge of an article for opening the circuit of the motor to allow the motor to stop and the door to close.

24. In a dispensing mechanism, a housing having an egress opening, a. plurality of chutes in 10 the housing in which articles to be dispensed may be stored, means for releasing articles from the chutes consecutively and one at a time from each chute to be passed through the opening, a door normally closed to the opening, motor driven means for opening the door, means for closing the circuit of the motor, and means operable upon the discharge of the article for opening the circuit of the motor to allow the motor to stop and the door to close.

' MAXWELL T. ZEIGLER. 

